Automatic variable sequence valve control system



Jan. 7, 1969 s. A. NEYER 3,420,270

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SEQUENCE VALVE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16. 1966 Sheet 2 of 2 S'rfi/ LEY A. NEYEP INVENTOQ United States Patent "ice 3,420,270 AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SEQUENCE VALVE CONTROL SYSTEM Stanley A. Neyer, 2373 E. Morley St., Simi, Calif. 93065 Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,803 US. Cl. 137-624.18 Int. Cl. A01g 25/00 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to automatic control systems for opening and closing valves, and more particularly to such systems for use in connection with distribution arrays employing considerable numbers of widely separated valves, such as may be found in large sprinkler and irrigation installations, in which it is desirable to be able to vary the valving sequence.

Large Watering installations of the type to which this invention relates, such as those found in use on farms, in parks, school grounds, golf courses, around municipal buildings and on industrial properties, may employ up to thirty valves for directing water from one or more main lines into irrigation channels or any number of lateral lines on which numerous sprinkler heads are mounted. These valves may be manually operated; however, it is generally highly desirable that they be automatically controlled. Minimally an automatic control system for this purpose must be able to open the valves at a given time or in some predetermined sequence, maintain them in the open position for the duration of the watering cycle, and close them at the end of that cycle.

Systems for this use have been developed along several lines. Some have used individual valve actuators with built-in timing means for each of the valves; however, such devices have proved to be expensive and difiicult to maintain. Furthermore, changing their sprinkling order requires the resetting of many, if not all, of their timing mechanisms.

In another class of related valve control systems each valve actuator is provided with a separate electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic line leading to a central programertimer and is opened and closed by impulses directed through its line by the programer-timer. The principal drawback to such arrangements lies in the great cost of installing and maintaining the lines to each of the individual valve actuators.

In an attempt to eliminate this problem still another class of automatic systems has been developed, utilizing a series of two-way valves on which sprinkler heads are mounted. When water under pressure is introduced into the line leading to the first valve the water pressure closes the valve outlet leading to the second valve and sprinkler and directs the water to the first sprinkler head. At the conclusion of the watering period for that sprinkler the water pressure is reduced momentarily thereby closing the outlet of the first valve leading to the first sprinkler head and opening the outlet leading to the second valve, which under the influence of increased, and then decreased water pressure, goes through the same cycles. Whether such systems employ a single lateral 01f the main line or 3,420,270 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 a plurality of laterals, the watering cycles are sequential, starting with the sprinkler heads closest the water main and proceeding along each lateral until the last sprinkler has been activated, whereupon pressure from the main is discontinued and the system readied for recycling.

Systems of this class are subject to a number of deficiencies. Since they operate sequentially, there is no way of varying the watering order. In order to water the area covered by one sprinkler head more frequently than the others in the same lateral line, it is necessary to activate each of the preceding valves and their associated sprinklers. While this problem may never arise in the irrigation of row crops, and it may be of little significance in installations whose operation does not affect traflic across or the use of the areas covered by the sprinkler arrays, it renders such systems totally unacceptable for certain applications. Several examples might be the golf course, Where golfers are playing near sprinklers positioned early in the normal water sequence; the public park, where families may be outing near such sprinklers; and the private estate. In any of these situations even the momentary activation of some of the sprinklers could cause acute embarrassment or property damage.

In addition, since these valves are connected in series, any breakdown in one could aifect the entire system. Efforts to reduce the possibility of such an occurrence have resulted in the valves for this class becoming relatively complex and therefore expensive to construct and difii cult to maintain. Unfortunately, the very nature of these valves and the arrangement of their pressure responsive parts makes them particularly susceptible to fouling, jamming and clogging.

With this background in mind, the objects of this invention include the following:

(1) To provide means for automatically opening and closing a valve.

(2) To provide a system for automatically opening a valve at a given time, maintaining it open for a predetermined period, and then closing it.

(3) To provide such a system capable of so controlling a number of valves from a remote control center.

(4) To provide such a system having the ability to operate a plurality of valves in any desired sequence.

(5) To provide such a system employing a variable fluid pressure signal as the means for controlling valve operation.

(6) To provide such a system in which a single fluid conduit is used to operate all of the valves being controlled.

(7) To provide such a system in which the main water supply line may be used to carry the control signal.

(8) To provide such a system in which a breakdown or malfunction at one valve will not aifect the operation of the other valves.

(9) To provide such a system in which the operation of the controlled valves is responsive to the number of fluctuations of fluid pressure in the control line.

(10) To provide a system which satisfies all of the foregoing objects and yet is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and requires little maintenance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a multi-valve sprinkler system illustrating a preferred embodiment of the subject invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of a typical control tape for use in the control system depicted in FIGURE 1 showing the command pattern for actuating a single valve;

FIGURE 3 is a graph showing the control line pressures associated with the tape of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of one of the pressure regulators and one of the valve actuators shown in FIGURE 1, with the interconnecting control line, and certain of the control equipment indicated schematically;

FIGURE 5 is a full-face view of the gating disk shown in FIGURE 4 taken in the direction 5-5;

FIGURE 60 is an enlarged side view of the gating disk advancing mechanism shown in FIGURE 5 taken in the direction 66 near the beginning of a typical advancing cycle; 1

FIGURE 6b shows the mechanism of FIGURE 6a in a latter stage of the advancing cycle;

FIGURE 60 shows the mechanism of FIGURE 6a at the conclusion of the advancing cycle, and in the position shown in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a reduced vertical cross-sectional view of an alternative form of valve arrangement for one of the valve actuators shown in FIGURE 1.

The subject invention is a system for automatically opening and closing valves. Essentially it comprises a valve actuator associated with each of the valves and in fluid communication with an hydraulic or pneumatic conduit. Means are provided for selectively regulating the pressure in the control conduit from one to another of several discrete levels, and programed timing means connected to the pressure regulating means are utilized to send pressure pulse signals through the conduit to all of the valve actuators. Gating means associated with each of the valve actuators and in constant fluid communication with the control conduit are adapted to open only upon the receipt of a predetermined number of pressure pulse signals through the control conduit, and to permit its associated valve actuator to respond to the actuating pulse only when the gating means is in its open position. Since the receipt of either a greater or a lesser number of pulse signals than the number assigned to it will have no effect on the responsiveness of any of the valve actuators, the subject system makes it possible to vary the actuating sequence at will.

Obviously the subject invention has a great number of varied applications; however, for the purposes of this specification it will be described as it might be embodied in a lawn sprinkling installation. It should be understood, that this description is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention or its utility.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 water flowing through the city water main 11 is diverted through high pressure lead 12 through pressure feed lines 17, 18, 19 and 20 into adjustable pressure regulators 13, 14, 15 and 16, respectively. As will be seen later, these regulators are adapted to be selectively connected to fluid manifold 21, thereby varying the pressure of the fluid in the manifold.

Water main 11 is connected to sprinkler arrays 51, 52 and 53 through sprinkler line valves 23, 24 and 25, respectively. These arrays generally consist of a substantial number of lateral lines provided with sprinkler heads, such as head 54, and together with their associated valves may be and normally are located at a substantial distance from one another and from any convenient central control point. Although only three valves and sprinkler arrays have been shown, the average golf course or recreational park utilizes many more of each.

Sprinkler line valves 23, 24 and 25 have associated with them sprinkler line valve actuators 31, 32 and 33, respectively, which are in constant fluid communication with control line 22. Control line 22 is connected to manifold 21 so that the pressure established in manifold 21 by regulators 13, 14, 15 and 16 is sensed directly and, for all practical intents and purposes, simultaneously, by valve actuators 31, 32 and 33.

The programer-timer means is shown schematically and designated by the numeral 35. One preferred embodiment of this means comprises a tape of photo-opaque material on which the preprogramed time sprinkling sequence is coded in the form of a plurality of perforations or slots, lying in four parallel tracks along the tape. A light from a light source 36 positioned on one side of the tape is directed to pass through said slots and onto a plurality of photo electric cells 38 located on the opposite side of the tape and substantially in line with each of the parallel tracks.

FIGURE 2 illustrates several typical sections of such a tape 37, and more clearly shows the parallel tracks 58a, 58b, 58c and 58d formed by the slots.

Conventional equipment (not shown) is provided to advance the tape at a uniform rate, preferrably in intermittent steps. Sprocket holes 57 may be provided at the edges of the tape to furnish both timing and traction means for the advancing equipment.

Suitable conventional electrical amplifier and relay equipment 39 (not shown in detail) amplifies the electrical signals emitted by photo electric cells 38 when they are energized by light from source 36 passing through one or more of the slots in tape 37. The amplified current is used to activate a relay circuit (also not shown), which in turn actuates one of the solenoids 41, 42, 43 and 44 associated with pressure regulators 13, 14, 15 and 16, respectively.

FIGURE 4 illustrates in more detail one preferred construction of pressure regulators 13, 14, 15 and 16, taking regulator 14 as typical of the group.

The valve comprises a central body portion 14a, a lower end portion 14b, and an upper end portion 14c which may be threadably connected for easy repair and maintenance. A resilient diaphragm 71 separates the central body portion 14a from the lower end 14b and forms a fluid-tight chamber 72 within the lower end portion 14b. Pressure feed line 18 is threadably connected to lower end portion 14b and communicates with chamber 72 through duct 64 and high pressure inlet 65, which is provided with a needle valve closure. Regulator needle valve core 66 is mounted for reciprocal motion within duct 64 and is biased upwardly toward its closed position in inlet valve 65 by adjustable compression spring 67. The needle 66a on needle valve core 66 is elongated so that it projects outwardly of the inlet valve 65 when the valve is fully closed.

Manifold 21 communicates with chamber 72 through valve 68. In regulators 13, 14, and 15 valve core 68a is normally maintained in a closed position within valve 68 by spring 69, and is withdrawn from valve 68 into an open position when the solenoid 41, 42 or 43 associated with it is activated. As will be explained in more detail later, in the preferred embodiment described herein the valve core 68a of regulator 16 is normally held in an open position by conventional means, such as by placing spring 69 on the opposite side of spring retainer 69a from the position shown in FIGURE 4, When activated, solenoid 44 advances the valve core of regulator 16 into its seated position, thereby breaking the fluid connection between chamber 72 and manifold 21.

Chamber 72 communicates through excess pressure return 77 and relief valve 76 and relief port 83 in the upper end of the regulator with excess fluid drain 84. Needle valve body 78 within relief valve 76 is biased toward its closed position in relief valve 76 by adjustable compression spring 79, which is adjusted by means of threaded upper end piece 140, and, as with needle valve 66, is provided with a needle 78a which projects outwardly of relief valve 76 when needle valve core 78 is in its closed position.

Compression spring 73 is positioned between diaphragm 71 and spring compression adjustment means 74, which is inserted threadably into regulator body 14a below relief valve 76. Relief valve actuator rod 81 is journaled through compression adjustment means 74 for longitudinal reciprocating motion. The passageway from relief valve 76 to drain 84 may be sealed off from the central portion 14a of the regulator body by means of packing or rings 82 in adjustment means 74, or seal 82a.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6a, 6b, 6c, illustrate further the construction and operation of the sprinkler line valve actuators 31, 32 and 33, all of which are substantially identical. Control line 22 is in constant communication with cavity 89 formed within cylinder 91 by the walls and one end of cylinder 91 and the head of piston 92, which is positioned within cylinder 91 in fluid-tight contact with the walls thereof and is adapted for axial reciprocating motion therein. Adjustable compression spring 94 is positioned within the cylinder 91 and biased between piston 92 and the end of cylinder 91 opposite from cavity 89. Rod 93 is firmly attached to the lower end of piston 92 and journaled for axial reciprocating motion through the end of cylinder 91 opposite cavity 89. Otfset arm 95 is firmly attached to rod 93, and is journaled for longitudinal reciprocating motion through support 97, which projects outwardly from the side of the valve body of valve 25.

Gating disk 101 of any suitable metal, plastic or other durable non-resilient material, is mounted on the forward end of the body of valve 25 for rotation about its center in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of cylinder 91 and rod 93, A plurality of outwardly radially extending pins 103 are firmly attached to disk 101 at evenly spaced intervals around its periphery and lying within its plane of rotation.

Water main 11 communicates with sprinkler line 49 through cylindrical cavity 116 and outlet 117 in the body of valve 25. Valve core 113 which is in fluid-tight contact with the walls of cavity 116 is mounted for axial reciprocating motion within cavity 116. Valve core 113 has a rearwardly projecting open-ended skirt 114 which is dimensioned to fit in fluid-tight contact with the cylindrical wall of cavity 116 and to form a seal across the mouth of outlet 117. Valve core 113 is urged toward the end of cavity 116 closer to cylinder 91 by adjustable compreszion spring 118. Port 115 through the side of tubular skirt 114 is positioned to register with outlet 117, thus bringing main 11 into communication with sprinkler line 49, when valve core 113 and skirt 114 are moved to the opposite end of cavity 116. Suitable conventional means (not shown) may be used to prevent valve core 113 and skirt 114 from rotating within cavity 116, thereby assuring proper alignment of port 115 with outlet 117.

An alternative arrangement for connecting main line 11 with the sprinkler lines is illustrated by high pressure sprinkler valve 26 as shown in detail in FIGURE 7. In this embodiment valve core 113a is of somewhat smaller diameter than cavity 116 and is adapted to serve as a needle valve between cavity 116 and a drain 122, which may be formed in the body of valve 26 itself.

In place of the rearwardly extending skirt 114, a second piston-mounted needle valve as'ernbly 123 is provided in cavity 116 and biased against the rear side of valve core 113a by adjustable compression spring 118a to serve to control the flow of water from main 11 through intake 124 into cavity 116.

Outlet 117a in the side of cavity 116 communicates between cavity 116 and line 47. Line 47 in turn is connected with the actuating chamber of a conventional hydraulically operated normally closed remote control high pressure valve 26, such as the Febco, Incorporated Model 1825 G valve (not shown in detail), which is positioned between main line 11 and the sprinkler array 51, 52 and 53 associated with that particular actuator 31, 32 and 33.

One preferred form of advancing mechanism 105 for gating disk 101 is mounted on the side of offset arm 95 adjacent disk 101. Advancing mechanism 105 comprises a resilient guide 106 and a retainer 107, having a resilient rearwardly projecting inwardly curved end 108 adjacent the transverse portion of guide 106. The distance between guide 106 and the free end of retainer 107 is preferably slightly greater than the spring between the ends of adjacent pairs of pins 103.

Torsion spring 109 is connected to disk 101 and flange 102 of the body of valve 25 and adapted continuously to urge disk 101 in the direction of arrow 110.

A keyhole 111 through disk 101 is located so as to register with the end of cavity 116 when disk 101 is properly oriented with respect to a stationary index stop 112, which will be described subsequently in greater detail. A receiver 119 is mounted on the end of valve core 113 and adapted to project outwardly of the body of valve 25. The end of piston rod 93 projects beyond arm in the direction of receiver 119 and is adapted to be extended through keyhole 111 and to engage the receiver 119 only when keyhole 111 is in registry with the end of cavity 116 and receiver 119.

Index stop 112 projects upwardly from base 99, which connects cylinder 91 and valve 25 and is positioned to lie across the arcuate path of index pin 121, which extends outwardly from gating disk 101.

With the foregoing description of the structure of one preferred embodiment of the subject invention firmly in mind, its operation can easily be followed.

In practice the regulators 13, 14, 15 and 16 will be preadjusted for the particular water pressure conditions in the locality. If we assume that the city water pressure in water main 11 is pounds per square inch, and that in the operation of any of the sprinkler arrays 51, 52 or 53 this pressure may drop to a low of 50 pounds per square inch, regulator 13 might be set at 35 pounds per square inch, regulator 14 at 25 pounds per square inch, regulator 15 at 45 pounds per square inch, and regulator 16 at 10 pounds per square inch. For reasons which will become clear later, the two principal requirements to be met in these adjustments are that there be a sensible difference between the pressure regulated by each of the regulators, and that none of the regulators be set for a pressure lower than the lowest anticipated pressure in the main line 11.

Giving consideration to the purposes for which the watering is to be applied, the soil and climatic conditions, and the various other factors involved in irrigation generally, tape 37 is prepared with the desired watering program. FIGURE 2 shows portions of such a tape with a typical program as it may appear for normal sequential watering The apertures forming track 58a are related to the operation of pressure regulator 16, those of track 58b with regulator 13, those of track 58c with regulator 14, and those of 58d with regulator 15. The graph of FIGURE 3 may be read in connection with the fragmental sections of tape 37 shown in FIGURE 2 and illustrates the pressure in manifold 21 and control line 22 during the portion of the program covered by the tape in FIGURE 2. For the purposes of illustration the part of the programed cycle applicable to sprinkler array 53 will be discussed in detail.

As tape 37 is carried past light source 36, initially the light is shielded by the tape from photoelectric cells 38. None of the solenoids 41, 42, 43 and 44 is activated, and valves 68 in regulators 13, 14 and 15 remain closed. Valve 68 in regulator 16 is open, and manifold 21 and control line 22 are thus maintained at a pressure of 10 pounds per square inch.

The tape transporting equipment has been activated so that just prior to the time when sprinkler array 53 is desired to be brought into the watering cycle the continuous aperture in track 58a passes in front of light source 36, allowing light to impinge upon the photoelectric cell 38 associated with regulator 16. In response to the current emitted by photoelectric cell 38 the amplification and relay circuitry 39 associated with regulator 16 activates solenoid 44, closing valve 68 in regulator 16. Simultaneously, the first aperture in track 58b passes before light source 36 and allows light to strike the photoelectric cell 38 associated with regulator 13. Similar electrical circuitry 39 activates solenoid 41, causing valve 68 in regulator 13 to open, increasing the pressure in manifold 21 and control line 22 from pounds per square inch to 35 pounds per square inch. Moments later, as tape 37 continues to advance past light source 36, the end of the first aperture in track 58b is reached and the light passing through it and impinging on the photoelectric 38 associated with regulator 13 is interrupted, thereby causing solenoid 41 to be deactivated and valve 68 to be returned to its closed position.

At the same time an aperture in track 58c, associated with regulator 14 appears before light source 36, allowing light to pass through tape 37 actuating the photocell 38 and associated amplification and relay circuitry 39 to activate solenoid 42, thereby opening valve 68 in regulator 14 which, as has been stated, is set to maintain a pressure of pounds per square inch.

Since the water in control line 22 and manifold 21 is at a pressure of 35 pounds per square inch, water flows from manifold 21 into chamber 72 of regulator 14 at this higher pressure.

Referring to FIGURE 4, wherein the structural elements of a typical regulator are shown, springs 67 and 73 are adjusted so that resilient diaphragm 71 maintains inlet valve 65 open, allowing high pressure water from the main 11 to flow into chamber 72 through pressure feed line 18 only until the pressure in chamber 72 reaches 25 pounds per square inch, whereupon the combined effects of water main pressure and the influences of spring 67 and pressure on the underside of diaphragm 71 overcome the resistance of spring 73 allowing the valve 65 to close. Spring 79 may be adjusted to permit a pressure slightly in excess of 25 pounds per square inch in chamber 72 acting through diaphragm 71 and rod 81, to overcome its resistance, thereby allowing relief valve 76 to be opened, and a small amount of water to flow from chamber 72 through excess pressure return 77 and valve 76 into drain 84, thereby relieving the remaining excess pressure in chamber 72. Preferably spring 79 is adjusted to permit the pressure in chamber 72 of regulator 14 to remain slightly higher than 25 pounds per square inch when the pressure in manifold 21 is higher than 25 pounds per square inch at the time valve 68 is opened. In addition to avoiding unnecessary wear on high pressure valve 65, this arrangement is particularly useful in installations in which it is desired not to reset gating disks 101 at the end of the watering cycle for each of the sprinkler arrays.

Within a few moments the end of the first aperture in track 580 is reached and the aperture passes out of the beam from light source 36. Simultaneously, or shortly thereafter, the second aperture in track 58b exposes the photoelectric cell 38 associated with regulator 13 to light from source 36. In this manner regulators 13 and 14 are brought into communication consecutively with manifold 21 for timed intervals, thereby creating a series of timed pressure pulses in control line 22. These pulses are illustrated graphically by pressure peaks 61 and valleys 62 in FIGURE 3.

In FIGURE 4 sprinkler line valve 25 is shown in its rearwardmost position, as it would appear with no pressure whatever in control line 22. The compression of spring 94 is adjusted so that spring 94 resists the influence of fluid pressures up to 10 pounds per square inch in cavity 89. Thus when regulator 16 is in communication with manifold 21 and the pressure in line 22 is 10 pounds per square inch or less, piston 92 remains in, or returns to its rearwardmost position in cylinder 91. Under the influence of higher pressures in cavity 89, piston rod 93 moves arm 95 forwardly at a rate roughly proportional to the difference between the force exerted on piston 92 by water pressure in cavity 89 and that exerted by spring 94. When arm 95 advances a short distance the guide 106 and retainer 107 of advancing mechanism 105 intercept the arcuate path of pins 103. The interaction of guide 106,

retainer 107 and pins 103 through each complete pressure pulse cycle actually effects the rotation of gating disk 101.

Sequential FIGURES 6a, 6b and 6c indicate schematically the operation of advancing mechanism 105 in connection with gating disk 101 and pins 103. For convenience, four of pins 103 have been marked, A, B, C and D, respectively, in order to permit the advancing procedure to be followed more easily. In FIGURE 6a solenoid 41 on regulator 13 has been activated, causing valve 68 to be opened and manifold 21 and control line 22 to be ressurized at 35 pounds per square inch; and piston-driven arm has advanced beyond the point at which pin B is engaged by the upper side of guide 106. Pin B is held firmly against the upper side of guide 106 by the action of torsion spring 109.

Under the influence of the increased fluid pressure in cavity '89, piston 92 is advanced rapidly, thereby moving arm 95 in the direction of gating disk 101, as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 6a. Guide 106 slides past pin B until pin B comes in contact with resilient retainer 107. Diverted upwardly by the less-resilient portion of guide 106, pin B is forced against the free end of retainer 107 until the resilient end of retainer 107 is deformed sufliciently to allow pin B to pass between it and guide 106. At this point gating disk 101 has advanced rotationally by one of pins 103. By proper adjustment of spring 94, this can be made to occur just before the reduction of pressure in manifold 21 and control line 22 by the activation of regulator 14 and deactivation of regulator 13.

When pressure in the manifold in line 22 is reduced, piston 92 is driven rearwardly by compression spring 94, and arm 95 is drawn rearwardly by rod 93. As shown in FIGURES 6b and 60, when arm 95 reaches the point in its rearward motion at which guide 106 is withdrawn from the arcuate path of pins 103, pin C, which has been held in contact with the underside of guide 106 by the resiliency of guide 106 and the action of torsion spring 10 9' maintaining pin B in contact with the upper side of retainer 107 is no longer retained by guide 106. The free end of guide 106 springs outwardly, so that it is ready to pass under pin C when the next pressure pulse moves arm 95 forwardly again. Since sprinkler line valve actuators 31, 32 and 33 are all in the same control line, the identical advancing process is taking place in all three of them as well as in any other actuators which may be included in the same line.

It will be seen that "with each completed pressure pulse in control line 22 each of the keyholes 111 in the gating disks 10-1 of the several sprinkler line valve actuators 31, 32 and 33' will advance one position in its arcuate path. By starting the timed program cycle of tape 37 with keyholes 111 of each of the gating disks 101 in a previously known and different position with respect to a common starting point or index along this path, it is possible to not only know the precise location of each keyhole 111 with respect to the index but also to use the pressure pulses in control line 22 to insure that the keyhole 111 of any given actuator is aligned with extension 98 of rod 93 of that actuator at the moment it is desired to begin the watering cycle using the sprinkler array associated with that particular gating disk.

Returning to FIGURE 3 by way of example, pressure pulse 6111 brings keyhole 111 of gating disk 101 in valve actuator 33 to the posi.ion immediately preceding that shown in FIGURE 5. At this point in time the program on tape 37 deactivates regulator 14 and activates regulator 15 by means of the continuous slot indicated by 58d in FIGURE 2. In response to the pressure of 45 pounds per square inch in line 22 and cavity 89*, piston 92 is advanced rapidly to its forward-most position, carrying arm 95 with it. By properly designing advancing mechanism 105, this thrust of rod 93 and arm 95 can be adapted to position keyhole 111 precisely in line with the end 98- of rod 93. If keyhole 111 were not thus aligned with rod 93 and its extension 98, gating disk 101 would impede the forward progress of the end 98. Since keyhole 111 is in registry with the end 98 of piston rod 93, under the urging of the greatly increased pressure in control line 22 and cavity 89 piston 92 and rod are thrust forwardly until end 98 passes through keyhole 111 and contacts receiver 119. The force exerted against piston 92 is sufiicient to move valve core 113 to the rear end of cylindrical cavity 116, in which position the port 115 in rearwardly projecting skirt 114 brings outlet 117 into fluid communication with the line from water main 11, allowing water from the main to pass through sprinkler line 49 and into sprinkler array 53. The duration of the watering cycle for a sprinkler array 55 is determined by the time taken for the aperture in track 58d on tape 37 to pass light source 36.

When the passage of light from source 36 to the photo electric cell 38 associated with regulator 15 is once again interrupted, solenoid 43 is de-energized, allowing spring 69 to drive valvecore 68a into its closed position in regulator 15. Simultaneously the aperture in track 58a associated with regulator 16 passes beyond the beam of light from source 36, interrupting the light passing to the photo electric cell 38 associated with regulator 16, de-energizing solenoid 44 and allowing valve 68 in regulator 16 to be returned to the open position.

As described earlier in connection with the operation of regulator 14, the excess pressure bleeding system of regulator 16 immediately reduces the pressure in chamber 72 and manifold 21 from approximately 45 pounds per square inch to slightly in excess of ten pounds per square inch. With the pressure in control line 22 and cavity 89 likewise reduced piston 92 is urged rearwardly in cylinder 91 by spring 94, causing the end 98 of piston rod 93 to be withdrawn from keyhole 111. Spring 118 in cavity 116 and water pressure in line 11 then urge valve core 113 forwardly until port 115 is no longer aligned with outlet 117, and the flow of water from main 11 to sprinkler line 49 is interrupted.

Since all of the valve actuators 31, 32 and 33 are continuously in communication with control line 22 all of their gating disks 101 simultaneously go through the same advancing steps just described for actuator 33. At the commencement of the programed watering cycle, however, each of the gating disks 101 is positioned so that its keyhole 111 is in a different arcuate location with respect to the end 98 of piston rod 93. Thus, although each of the actuators 31, 32 and 33 undergoes precisely the same amount of rotation during the cycling of actuator 33, when regulator 16 is activated to send the valve actuating pressure pulse of 45 pounds per square inch through control line 22, the keyhole 111 of only one of the disks 101 is in a position to allow the end 98 of its associated actuator 33 to pass through and move its associated valve core 113.

While the valve arrangement between water main 11 and sprinkler line 49 shown in FIGURE 4 is satisfactory for installations in which the pressure in main 11 is relatively low, an alternative indirect valving arrangement such as that illustrated in FIGURE 7 and described earlier has many advantages for applications in areas where the main line pressure is in a higher range.

In such systems the operation of actuators 31, 32 and 33 is precisely as previously described. Water pressure in line 11 and spring 118a continuously urges needle valve core 113a forwardly into its seated position in the forward end of cavity 116, sealing cavity 116 from drain 122. Pressure from line 11 maintains the remote control high pressure valve 26 in its normally closed position.

When the high pressure actuating pressure pulse 63 drives one of the piston rod ends 98 through its associated keyhole 111 and against receiver 119, valve core 113a is unseated at the end of cavity 116 adjacent drain 122 and needle valve assembly 123 is forced rearwardly into its seated position, sealing cavity 116 from main line 11. The water in cavity 116 and line 47 is thus able to escape into drain 122 until the pressure in both is lower than the operating threshold of the remote high pressure valve 26 and valve 26 opens to connect its associated sprinkler array 53 to main 11. As with the valve arrangement previously described, the Watering cycle for that array continues until pulse 63 is terminated, the pressure in control line 22 and cavity 89 is reduced and rod end 98 is withdrawn from contact with receiver 119.

Any one of a number of conventional means may be used to locate the key holes 111 in gating disks 101 in their individual and distinct starting or index positions. As illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, one such method involves the use of an index pin 121 protruding forwardly from the front face of each gating disk 101. Index stop 112 is firmly mounted on base 99 to intercept pin 121 and arrest the rotation of disk 101 with keyhole 111 in its desired index position. At the commencement of the overall watering cycle tape 37 is programed so that the pressure in control line 22 is at approximately 10 pounds per square inch and all of the actuators 31, 32 and 33 are in their rearwardmost rest postions. Advancing mechanisms are not in the arcuate paths of pins 103 and disks 101 are free to rotate under the influence of springs 109 until their rotation is halted by index pins 121 and index stops 112 in their respective index positions.

As soon as the first pressure pulse 61 is sent into control line 22, all of the pistons 92 and their associated arms 91 are moved forwardly until advancing mechanisms 105 engage pins 103 and initiate the simultaneous pin-by-pin rotation of all of the disks 101. Between pulses 61 the interposition of guide 106 and retainer 107 of advancing mechanism 105 prevents reverse rotation of gating disks 101 under the influence of spring 109.

By providing regulators 13, 14 and 15 with relief valve means which insure that the pressure in control line 22 cannot be reduced accidentally below 25 pounds per square inch, the possibility of inadvertent or accidental re-indexing of the gating disks 101 is eliminated or substantially reduced.

It will be observed that the use of selective gating means, such as gating disks 101 makes it possible for the first time to actuate the sprinkling valve for any of the sprinkler arrays 51, 52 or 53 at any desired time in the overall programed cycle Without first having to actuate one or more of the other sprinkler valves. If, for example, it is desired to Water through sprinkler array 51, then sprinkler array 52, then sprinkler array 53 and then to return to sprinkler array 52 without watering in the locale of array 51, all that is necessary after the completion of the sprinkler cycle for array 53 is to program tape 37 to send through control line 22 the number of pressure pulses 61 necessary to bring keyhole 111 in gating disk 101 of actuator 32 into alignment with the piston rod 93 of actuator 32 and then activate regulator 15 to send the actuating pulse 63 through control line 22. Since only gating disk 101 of actuator 32 is in a position to permit end 98 of piston rod 93 to pass through its associated keyhole 111, although actuators 31 and 32 sense the same pressure pulse 63, only actuator 32 will operate to connect water main 11 with the desired sprinkler line 48.

For some installations it may be desirable to utilize the water main 11 itself as the means for carrying the valve-controlling and actuating pressure pulses 61 and 63 to actuators 31, 32 and 33, thereby avoiding the need for a costly separate control line 22. In this modification of the subject invention (not illustrated) high pressure lead 12, manifold 21 and control line 22 are eliminated. Main 11 is connected to valves 23, 24 and 25 through regulators 13, 14, 15 and 16 Which, as in FIGURE 1, are in parallel. These regulators thus control the pressure in main 11 at valves 23, 24 and 25. Relatively short fluid leads are used to connect the cavity 89 of each of the sprinkler line valve actuators 31, 32 and 33 to main 11. These leads serve the same purpose as does control line 22 in the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 1.

Where main line pressure is not excessive and the valve 1 1 arrangement shown in FIGURE 4 is used, only valves 23, 24 and 25 are connected directly to main line 11. In areas where higher main line pressure necessitates the use of the high pressure valve arrangement shown in FIGURE 7, separate leads from main line 11 are connected to the high pressure intake side of each high pressure valve 26 as well.

Regulators 13, 14 and 16 are adjusted as described earlier; however, regulator is set at or near the maximum local main line pressure.

In this configuration the operation of the invention is substantially as previously outlined, except that the pressure pulse signals are transmitted to actuators 31, 32 and 33 by the same conduit that carries the Water to sprinkler arrays 51, 52 and 53 during their Watering cyles.

As stated earlier, although the subject invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by Way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is: 1. A system for selectively controlling a plurality of valves comprising:

gating means associated with each of said valves having a discrete initial index position, having a closed position and an open position, and being moved between said closed position and said open position only in response to one of a plurality of first discrete signals;

means for selectively generating said first discrete signals and a second discrete signal in a timed sequence;

means for communicating said first and second signals to all of said gating means;

valve actuating means associated with each of said valves activated by said second discrete signal and operable only when the gating means associated with said valve is in its open position; and indexing means for simultaneously returning all of said gating means to their respective index positions at any point during said timed sequence in response to a third discrete signal.

2. The system described in claim 1 in which:

each of said first discrete signals comprises a predetermined number of intermittent fluid pressure pulses;

said second discrete signal comprises a timed fluid pressure pulse;

said third discrete signal comprises a predetermined variation in fluid pressure; and

said communication means comprises a fluid transmitting conduit.

3. The system described in claim 1 in which:

each of said first discrete signals comprises a predetermined number of intermittent fluid pressure pluses; said second discrete signal comprises a timed fluid pressure pulse;

said communication means comprises a fluid transmitting conduit;

said third discrete signal comprises a predetermined variation in fluid pressure in said conduit; and

said valve actuating means comprises a cylinder,

a piston adapted to reciprocate within said cylinder and forming a fluid pressure tight cavity within said cylinder, said cavity being in fluid communication with said signal communicating means,

a valve operating member associated with said valve, and

a valve actuating member, connected to said piston extending outwardly from said cylinder and adapted to engage and actuate said valve operating member when said piston moves in response to said second discrete signal. 4. The system described in claim 1 in which: H each of said first discrete signals comprises a predetermined number of intermittent fluid pressure pulses; said second discrete signal comprises a timed fluid pressure pulse; said communication means comprises a fluid transmitting conduit; i said valve actuating means comprises a cylinder,

apiston adapted to reciprocate within said cylinder and forming a fluid pressure tight cavity within said cylinder, said cavity being in lipid communication with said signal communicating means,

a valve operating member associated with said valve,

a valve actuating member connected to said piston extending outwardly from said cylinder and adapted to engage and actuate said valve operating member when said piston moves in response to said second discrete signal; and

said gating means comprises a substantially solid gating member mounted for movement into a plurality of positions in the path of said valve actuating member and one position out of the path of said valve actuating member,

position locating means associated with said gating member for each of said positions, and

advancing means associated with said piston engaging said locating means and moving said gating member from one to another of said positions in sequence in response to each of said fluid pressure pulses.

5. A system for selectively controlling a plurality of irrigation valves comprising:

a source of fluid under pressure;

a fluid transmitting control line communicating with said source;

pressure control means for intermittently varying the pressure of fluid in said control line;

gating means associated with each of said valves communicating continuously with said control line and responsive to fluid pressure variations therein, each such gating means having a discrete initial index position and a closed position and an open position, and being moved between said closed position and said open position only in response to a predetermined discrete number of such fluid pressure variations;

valve actuating means associated with each of said valves communicating continuously with said control line and activated by a predetermined fluid pressure therein to open and regulate said valve, said valve actuating means being inoperable when the gating means associated with said valve is in its closed position, and being operable when said gating means is in its open position; and

indexing means for simultaneously returning all of said gating means to their respective index positions in response to a predetermined variation of fluid pressure in said control line.

6. The system described in claim 5 in which said valve actuating means comprises a cylinder;

a piston adapted to reciprocate within said cylinder and forming a fluid pressure tight cavity within said cylinder, said cavity being in fluid communication with said signal communicating means;

a valve operating member associated with said valve; and

a valve actuating member connected to said piston extending outwardly from said cylinder and adapted to engage and actuate said valve operating member when said piston moves in response to said predetermined fluid pressure; and said indexing means comprises an index pin on said gating means, an index pin stop registering with said index position; resilient means acting on said gating means and urging said index pin toward said stop, restraining means preventing said gating means from returning to said index position under the influence of said resilient means, and means for rendering said restraining means inoperative in response to said predetermined variation of fluid pressure. 7. A system for selectively controlling a plurality of valves comprising:

gating means associated with each of said valves having a discrete initial index position, and a closed position and an open position, and being moved between said closed position and said open position only in response to one of a plurality of first discrete signals comprising a predetermined number of intermittent fluid pressure pulses; means for selectively generating said first discrete signals and a second discrete signal comprising a timed fluid pressure pulse, in a timed sequence; means including a fluid transmitting conduit for communicating said first and second signals to all of said gating means; and valve actuating means associated with each of said valves activated by said second discrete signal and operable only when the gating means associated with said valve is in its open position, said valve actuating means comprising a cylinder,

a piston adapted to reciprocate within said cylinder and forming a fluid pressure tight cavity within said cylinder, said cavity being in fluid communication with said signal communicating means,

a valve operating member associated with said valve,

21 valve actuating member connected to said piston extending outwardly from said cylinder and adapted to engage and actuate said valve operating member when said piston moves in response to said second discrete signal;

said gating means comprising a substantially solid gating member mounted for movement into a plurality of positions in the path of said valve actuating member and one position out of the path of said valve actuating member,

position locating means associated with said gating member for each of said positions, and

advancing means associated with said piston engaging said locating means and moving said gating member from one to another of said positions in sequence in response to each of said fluid pressure pulses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,145,736 8/1964 Gheen 251-230 X 3,147,770 9/ 1964 'Perlis 137-624.13 3,241,569 3/1966 Sully 239-66 X ALAN COHAN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 239-66 

